Reservation Policies for Adventure Packages
Be SAFE! Have Serious FUN!
Safety Requirements & Physical Condition
- Many of our adventure activities such as rafting and canyoneering involve inherent risk and physical exertion, so you must be in good physical condition without any recent health condition that may impede your safety and well-being, such as, but not limited to: surgery, heart condition, pregnancy, disability, asthma or injury.
- If you take medication such as allergy pills and need them with you or have other medical concerns, please inform the guide.
- We reserve the right to make necessary modifications or cancellations to ensure the safety and enjoyment of our services for all participants.
- Clients must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- We recommend closed-toed, water-resistant shoes for hikes, horseback riding & canyoning.
- We recommend a maximum weight of 200lbs for horseback riding as Costa Rican horses are smaller in frame than Western horses. We recommend a maximum of 225lbs. for rafting and canyoning. Please contact us should you have concerns about this.
Recommended Ages for Tours
- Rafting class 3-4: 13-65 years
- Rafting class 2-3, Mountain Biking & Venado Caves: 10-65 years
- Gravity Falls: 12-55 years
- Canyoning: 10-60 years
- Safari Float & nature walks: 6-66+ years
- Horseback riding: 8-65 years
- Stand Up Paddling & Kayaking: 8-85 years
- Community, Culture & Nature, Turtle Observation Tours, Cooking Class & Farm Tours: No age limit
- Most tours require: 2 people minimum
Tour Reservation, Pricing & Cancellation Policies
Desafio prides itself on having flexible reservation and cancellation policies. Desafio will provide a refund should a Desafio service be cancelled due to inclement weather or safety concerns. No refund applies for services used (such as the cost of lunch, transport, etc.).
- Cancellations for day tours must be made no later than 48 hours prior to the service, in writing and acknowledged by Desafio Adventure Company.
- There are no refunds for no shows, last-minute cancellations or for portions of a tour a client chooses not to participate in.
- If clients are granted a refund, the client is refunded according to how the payment was made.
Payment Policies for Groups
Group Reservation Payment Schedule:
- The group needs to pay 25% to proceed with the reservation.
- At 90 days before the reservation, another 25% must be paid.
- The remaining 50% payment balance must be paid 60 days before the reservation.
Cancellation Policies for Groups
| Cancellation Timeframe |
Penalization |
| Less than 90 days |
25% penalty |
| Less than 60 days |
50% penalty |
| Less than 45 days |
100% penalty (no refund) |
Multi-Day Vacation Package Policies
Payment Policy for Package Tours:
- 50% at booking and the remaining 50% one month before the start of the tour package.
- We are obliged by the same reservation and cancellation policies of the hotels and may require the full payment for the hotel portion of the vacation package according to hotel requirements.
Cancellation Policies for Multi-Day Vacation Packages:
- Cancellations for day tours must be made no later than 48 hours prior to the service.
- For entire package tours cancelled less than one month in advance, we cannot give a full refund as many hotels and some tour operators do not allow for short notice cancellations.
- There are no refunds for no shows or parts of the tour or itinerary clients request to cancel at the last minute or decide not participate in while on an excursion.
- Any cancellation by a client must be made in writing and acknowledged by Desafio Adventure Company.
Refund Schedule for Multi-Day Vacation Packages:
| Timeframe Before Trip |
Refund Amount |
| Up to 31 days before |
50% deposit minus 10% (of total package price) administrative fee |
| 30 to 2 days before |
40% refund (the 60% we keep would cover the hotel costs which are usually 40-50% of the total package price plus 10% for administrative costs) |
| Peak-season travel (December 15th - January 1st) |
50% per person non-refundable deposit |
| No shows / Unused portions |
No refunds |
Company Rights & Responsibilities
- Desafio Adventure Company reserves the right to cancel any trip due to unsafe conditions and will only run a tour according to established company policies.
- A refund is given if (on rare occasion) no tour is run.
- For reasons beyond our control (climate, river levels, etc.), we may change to a more-suitable tour with an equal or similar difficulty rating and adventure-appeal or offer other tour options so you don't miss out on a fun day in Costa Rica. Our Head Guide helps make the final decision.
- Costa Rica's natural environment is filled with insects, snakes, crocodiles & other wildlife. In addition, landslides, falling rocks & sudden flash floods are possible. We may not be held responsible for any of the above. We may evaluate any force majeure event on a case by case basis to find a reasonable solution.
- Desafio Adventure Company has a comprehensive civil responsibility and liability insurance policy and our guides and drivers are trained in first aid/CPR in case of emergency. However, we recommend you have your own travel insurance with a reputable company prior to participating in a tour.
- Please do not take valuables on tours such as jewelry, passports, etc. Desafio Adventure Company and affiliates are not responsible for lost, broken or stolen items. We have a lost & found for tours and services and donate items after 2 weeks.
Payment Methods
Payments can be made to:
- PayPal to the account paypal@desafiocostarica.com (related transaction charges will be covered by the purchaser.)
- Credit card via our secure, online Desafio PayLink (Visa/MasterCard/American Express).
Important: Reservations are not confirmed until we acknowledge receipt of written service request and/or signed credit card authorization form.
Confirmation Subject to Availability
Due to our small, personalized tours, we cannot guarantee your reservation until we have confirmed receipt of your payment. We may require an earlier pre-payment for tours and services during our high and peak seasons (July-August and/or December-January, etc.).
Our Location
Desafio Adventure Company is located in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica.
We operate tours and adventures throughout Costa Rica, with daily departures available from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Thank you for reserving with Desafio Adventure Company!
We look forward to providing you with an unforgettable Costa Rican adventure experience. ¡Pura Vida!